Men refuse to pay cab fare, shoot L.B. driver

December 4, 2009 12:40:45 AM PST

LONG BEACH, Calif. --

Two passengers refused to pay their cab fare in Long Beach and shot the driver instead. Other cabbies say it's part of an increasing wave of violence.The shooting was on Thursday night at the intersection of Cerritos Avenue and 17th Street.

Cab drivers say this is the third such incident in the past month, and that there needs to be tighter security in taxis.

"Video camera or surveillance camera in the cab, it will help us too," said one driver, who wanted to stay anonymous.

Police do not have a clear description of the suspects. Investigators are not sure if the shooting happened because of the argument over the fare, or if it was a robbery gone wrong.